1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways.2 But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world.3 The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like. He holds everything together with his powerful word. When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.4 The Son became much greater than the angels, and God gave him a name that is much greater than theirs. 5 This is because God never said to any of the angels,
"You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father." — Psalm 2:7
Nor did God say of any angel,
"I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son." — 2 Samuel 7:14
6 And when God brings his firstborn Son into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him." — Psalm 97:7
7 This is what God said about the angels:
"God makes his angels become like winds.
He makes his servants become like flames of fire." — Psalm 104:4
8 But God said this about his Son:
"God, your throne will last forever and ever.
You will rule your kingdom with fairness.
9 You love right and hate evil,
so God has chosen you from among your friends;
he has set you apart with much joy." — Psalm 45:6–7
10 God also says,
"Lord, in the beginning you made the earth,
and your hands made the skies.
11 They will be destroyed, but you will remain.
They will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will fold them like a coat.
And, like clothes, you will change them.
But you never change,
and your life will never end." — Psalm 102:25–27
13 And God never said this to an angel:
"Sit by me at my right side
until I put your enemies under your control." — Psalm 110:1 14 All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.
Hebrews 2 - New Century
1 So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth.2 The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned. 3 So surely we also will be punished if we ignore this great salvation. The Lord himself first told about this salvation, and those who heard him testified it was true. 4 God also testified to the truth of the message by using wonders, great signs, many kinds of miracles, and by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted. 5 God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming, which is what we have been talking about. 6 It is written in the Scriptures,
"Why are people even important to you?
Why do you take care of human beings?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
8 You put all things under their control." — Psalm 8:4–6
When God put everything under their control, there was nothing left that they did not rule. Still, we do not yet see them ruling over everything. 9 But we see Jesus, who for a short time was made lower than the angels. And now he is wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. And by God's grace, he died for everyone. 10 God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory, so he made the One who leads people to salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
"Then, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you;
I will praise you in the public meeting." — Psalm 22:22
13 He also says,
"I will trust in God." — Isaiah 8:17
And he also says,
"I am here, and with me are the children God has given me." — Isaiah 8:18 14 Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus himself became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—15 and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.16 Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham. 17 For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could die in their place to take away their sins. 18 And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted.
Hebrews 3 - New Century
1 So all of you holy brothers and sisters, who were called by God, think about Jesus, who was sent to us and is the high priest of our faith.2 Jesus was faithful to God as Moses was in God's family.3 Jesus has more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.4 Every house is built by someone, but the builder of everything is God himself.5 Moses was faithful in God's family as a servant, and he told what God would say in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are God's house if we confidently maintain our hope. 7 So it is as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today listen to what he says.
8 Do not be stubborn as in the past
when you turned against God,
when you tested God in the desert.
9 There your ancestors tried me and tested me
and saw the things I did for forty years.
10 I was angry with them.
I said, 'They are not loyal to me
and have not understood my ways.'
11 I was angry and made a promise,
'They will never enter my rest.' " — Psalm 95:7–11 12 So brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God.13 But encourage each other every day while it is "today." Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.14 We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning. 15 This is what the Scripture says:
"Today listen to what he says.
Do not be stubborn as in the past
when you turned against God." — Psalm 95:7–8
16 Who heard God's voice and was against him? It was all those people Moses led out of Egypt. 17 And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert.18 And to whom was God talking when he promised that they would never enter his rest? He was talking to those who did not obey him.19 So we see they were not allowed to enter and have God's rest, because they did not believe.
Hebrews 4 - New Century
1 Now, since God has left us the promise that we may enter his rest, let us be very careful so none of you will fail to enter. 2 The Good News was preached to us just as it was to them. But the teaching they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not accept it with faith. 3 We who have believed are able to enter and have God's rest. As God has said,
"I was angry and made a promise,
'They will never enter my rest.'" — Psalm 95:11
But God's work was finished from the time he made the world. 4 In the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his works." 5 And again in the Scripture God said, "They will never enter my rest." 6 It is still true that some people will enter God's rest, but those who first heard the way to be saved did not enter, because they did not obey. 7 So God planned another day, called "today." He spoke about that day through David a long time later in the same Scripture used before:
"Today listen to what he says.
Do not be stubborn." — Psalm 95:7–8
8 We know that Joshua did not lead the people into that rest, because God spoke later about another day. 9 This shows that the rest for God's people is still coming.10 Anyone who enters God's rest will rest from his work as God did.11 Let us try as hard as we can to enter God's rest so that no one will fail by following the example of those who refused to obey. 12 God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.13 Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. 14 Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have. 15 For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. 16 Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.
Hebrews 5 - New Century
1 Every high priest is chosen from among other people. He is given the work of going before God for them to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2 Since he himself is weak, he is able to be gentle with those who do not understand and who are doing wrong things. 3 Because he is weak, the high priest must offer sacrifices for his own sins and also for the sins of the people. 4 To be a high priest is an honor, but no one chooses himself for this work. He must be called by God as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not choose himself to have the honor of being a high priest, but God chose him. God said to him,
"You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father." — Psalm 2:7 6 And in another Scripture God says,
"You are a priest forever,
a priest like Melchizedek." — Psalm 110:4 7 While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because he trusted God. 8 Even though Jesus was the Son of God, he learned obedience by what he suffered.9 And because his obedience was perfect, he was able to give eternal salvation to all who obey him.10 In this way God made Jesus a high priest, a priest like Melchizedek. 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are so slow to understand.12 By now you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God's message. You still need the teaching that is like milk. You are not ready for solid food.13 Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. 14 But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil.
Hebrews 6 - New Century
1 So let us go on to grown-up teaching. Let us not go back over the beginning lessons we learned about Christ. We should not again start teaching about faith in God and about turning away from those acts that lead to death.2 We should not return to the teaching about baptisms, about laying on of hands, about the raising of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And we will go on to grown-up teaching if God allows. 4 Some people cannot be brought back again to a changed life. They were once in God's light, and enjoyed heaven's gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. 5 They found out how good God's word is, and they received the powers of his new world. 6 But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others. 7 Some people are like land that gets plenty of rain. The land produces a good crop for those who work it, and it receives God's blessings. 8 Other people are like land that grows thorns and weeds and is worthless. It is about to be cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire. 9 Dear friends, we are saying this to you, but we really expect better things from you that will lead to your salvation. 10 God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them.11 We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hope for.12 We do not want you to become lazy. Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised. 13 God made a promise to Abraham. And as there is no one greater than God, he used himself when he swore to Abraham,14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."15 Abraham waited patiently for this to happen, and he received what God promised. 16 People always use the name of someone greater than themselves when they swear. The oath proves that what they say is true, and this ends all arguing.17 God wanted to prove that his promise was true to those who would get what he promised. And he wanted them to understand clearly that his purposes never change, so he made an oath.18 These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given.19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong. It enters behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place in heaven, 20 where Jesus has gone ahead of us and for us. He has become the high priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7 - New Century
1 Melchizedek was the king of Salem and a priest for God Most High. He met Abraham when Abraham was coming back after defeating the kings. When they met, Melchizedek blessed Abraham, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle. First, Melchizedek's name means "king of goodness," and he is king of Salem, which means "king of peace." 3 No one knows who Melchizedek's father or mother was, where he came from, when he was born, or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God; he continues being a priest forever. 4 You can see how great Melchizedek was. Abraham, the great father, gave him a tenth of everything that he won in battle. 5 Now the law says that those in the tribe of Levi who become priests must collect a tenth from the people—their own people—even though the priests and the people are from the family of Abraham.6 Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, but he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the man who had God's promises.7 Now everyone knows that the more important person blesses the less important person.8 Priests receive a tenth, even though they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who received a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.9 We might even say that Levi, who receives a tenth, also paid it when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth.10 Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham. 11 The people were given the law concerning the system of priests from the tribe of Levi, but they could not be made perfect through that system. So there was a need for another priest to come, a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron. 12 And when a different kind of priest comes, the law must be changed, too.13 We are saying these things about Christ, who belonged to a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.14 It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests belonging to that tribe. 15 And this becomes even more clear when we see that another priest comes who is like Melchizedek. 16 He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of his life, which continues forever. 17 It is said about him,
"You are a priest forever,
a priest like Melchizedek." — Psalm 110:4 18 The old rule is now set aside, because it was weak and useless.19 The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.20 It is important that God did this with an oath. Others became priests without an oath, 21 but Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said:
"The Lord has made a promise
and will not change his mind.
'You are a priest forever.'" — Psalm 110:4
22 This means that Jesus is the guarantee of a better agreement from God to his people. 23 When one of the other priests died, he could not continue being a priest. So there were many priests.24 But because Jesus lives forever, he will never stop serving as priest.25 So he is able always to save those who come to God through him because he always lives, asking God to help them. 26 Jesus is the kind of high priest we need. He is holy, sinless, pure, not influenced by sinners, and he is raised above the heavens.27 He is not like the other priests who had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. Christ offered his sacrifice only once and for all time when he offered himself.28 The law chooses high priests who are people with weaknesses, but the word of God's oath came later than the law. It made God's Son to be the high priest, and that Son has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 8 - New Century
1 Here is the point of what we are saying: We have a high priest who sits on the right side of God's throne in heaven. 2 Our high priest serves in the Most Holy Place, the true place of worship that was made by God, not by humans. 3 Every high priest has the work of offering gifts and sacrifices to God. So our high priest must also offer something to God. 4 If our high priest were now living on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are already priests here who follow the law by offering gifts to God.5 The work they do as priests is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. This is why God warned Moses when he was ready to build the Holy Tent: "Be very careful to make everything by the plan I showed you on the mountain." 6 But the priestly work that has been given to Jesus is much greater than the work that was given to the other priests. In the same way, the new agreement that Jesus brought from God to his people is much greater than the old one. And the new agreement is based on promises of better things. 7 If there had been nothing wrong with the first agreement, there would have been no need for a second agreement. 8 But God found something wrong with his people. He says:
"Look, the time is coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new agreement
with the people of Israel
and the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the agreement
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to bring them out of Egypt.
But they broke that agreement,
and I turned away from them, says the Lord.
10 This is the agreement I will make
with the people of Israel at that time, says the Lord.
I will put my teachings in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 People will no longer have to teach their neighbors and relatives
to know the Lord,
because all people will know me,
from the least to the most important.
12 I will forgive them for the wicked things they did,
and I will not remember their sins anymore." — Jeremiah 31:31–34 13 God called this a new agreement, so he has made the first agreement old. And anything that is old and worn out is ready to disappear.
Hebrews 9 - New Century
1 The first agreement had rules for worship and a place on earth for worship. 2 The Holy Tent was set up for this. The first area in the Tent was called the Holy Place. In it were the lamp and the table with the bread that was made holy for God.3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place.4 In it was a golden altar for burning incense and the Ark covered with gold that held the old agreement. Inside this Ark was a golden jar of manna, Aaron's rod that once grew leaves, and the stone tablets of the old agreement. 5 Above the Ark were the creatures that showed God's glory, whose wings reached over the lid. But we cannot tell everything about these things now. 6 When everything in the Tent was made ready in this way, the priests went into the first room every day to worship. 7 But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he did that only once a year. He could never enter the inner room without taking blood with him, which he offered to God for himself and for sins the people did without knowing they did them.8 The Holy Spirit uses this to show that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the system of the old Holy Tent was still being used.9 This is an example for the present time. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect.10 These gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings. They were rules for the body, to be followed until the time of God's new way. 11 But when Christ came as the high priest of the good things we now have, he entered the greater and more perfect tent. It is not made by humans and does not belong to this world. 12 Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once—and for all time. He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from sin forever.13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a cow are sprinkled on the people who are unclean, and this makes their bodies clean again.14 How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God. 15 For this reason Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people. Those who are called by God can now receive the blessings he has promised, blessings that will last forever. They can have those things because Christ died so that the people who lived under the first agreement could be set free from sin. 16 When there is a will, it must be proven that the one who wrote that will is dead.17 A will means nothing while the person is alive; it can be used only after the person dies.18 This is why even the first agreement could not begin without blood to show death.19 First, Moses told all the people every command in the law. Next he took the blood of calves and mixed it with water. Then he used red wool and a branch of the hyssop plant to sprinkle it on the book of the law and on all the people.20 He said, "This is the blood that begins the Agreement that God commanded you to obey."21 In the same way, Moses sprinkled the blood on the Holy Tent and over all the things used in worship.22 The law says that almost everything must be made clean by blood, and sins cannot be forgiven without blood to show death. 23 So the copies of the real things in heaven had to be made clean by animal sacrifices. But the real things in heaven need much better sacrifices.24 Christ did not go into the Most Holy Place made by humans, which is only a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself and is there now before God to help us.25 The high priest enters the Most Holy Place once every year with blood that is not his own. But Christ did not offer himself many times.26 Then he would have had to suffer many times since the world was made. But Christ came only once and for all time at just the right time to take away all sin by sacrificing himself. 27 Just as everyone must die once and then be judged, 28 so Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10 - New Century
1 The law is only an unclear picture of the good things coming in the future; it is not the real thing. The people under the law offer the same sacrifices every year, but these sacrifices can never make perfect those who come near to worship God.2 If the law could make them perfect, the sacrifices would have already stopped. The worshipers would be made clean, and they would no longer have a sense of sin.3 But these sacrifices remind them of their sins every year, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 So when Christ came into the world, he said:
"You do not want sacrifices and offerings,
but you have prepared a body for me.
6 You do not ask for burnt offerings
and offerings to take away sins.
7 Then I said, 'Look, I have come.
It is written about me in the book.
God, I have come to do what you want.'" — Psalm 40:6–8
8 In this Scripture he first said, "You do not want sacrifices and offerings. You do not ask for burnt offerings and offerings to take away sins." (These are all sacrifices that the law commands.) 9 Then he said, "Look, I have come to do what you want." God ends the first system of sacrifices so he can set up the new system.10 And because of this, we are made holy through the sacrifice Christ made in his body once and for all time. 11 Every day the priests stand and do their religious service, often offering the same sacrifices. Those sacrifices can never take away sins.12 But after Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, forever, he sat down at the right side of God.13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power.14 With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says:
16 "This is the agreement I will make
with them at that time, says the Lord.
I will put my teachings in their hearts
and write them on their minds." — Jeremiah 31:33
17 Then he says:
"Their sins and the evil things they do—
I will not remember anymore." — Jeremiah 31:34
18 Now when these have been forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice for sins. 19 So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus' death.20 We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus opened for us. It leads through the curtain—Christ's body.21 And since we have a great priest over God's house,22 let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.23 Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. 24 Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.25 You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming. 26 If we decide to go on sinning after we have learned the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins.27 There is nothing but fear in waiting for the judgment and the terrible fire that will destroy all those who live against God.28 Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was found guilty from the proof given by two or three witnesses. He was put to death without mercy.29 So what do you think should be done to those who do not respect the Son of God, who look at the blood of the agreement that made them holy as no different from others' blood, who insult the Spirit of God's grace? Surely they should have a much worse punishment.30 We know that God said, "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them." And he also said, "The Lord will judge his people."
Hebrews 11 - New Century
1 Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. 2 Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past. 3 It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen. 4 It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking. 5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God. 6 Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. 7 It was by faith that Noah heard God's warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family. By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith. 8 It was by faith Abraham obeyed God's call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9 It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God.10 Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God. 11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised. 12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted. 13 All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth.14 When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own.15 If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back.16 But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them. 17 It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice.18 God had said, "The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac."19 Abraham believed that God could raise the dead, and really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death. 20 It was by faith that Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau.21 It was by faith that Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each one of Joseph's sons. Then he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick. 22 It was by faith that Joseph, while he was dying, spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt and gave instructions about what to do with his body. 23 It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's order. 24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of the king of Egypt's daughter.25 He chose to suffer with God's people instead of enjoying sin for a short time.26 He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God's reward.27 It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king's anger. Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see.28 It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel. 29 It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned. 30 It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Hebrews 12 - New Century
1 We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. 2 Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. 3 Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying. 4 You are struggling against sin, but your struggles have not yet caused you to be killed. 5 You have forgotten the encouraging words that call you his children:
"My child, don't think the Lord's discipline is worth nothing,
and don't stop trying when he corrects you.
6 The Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child." — Proverbs 3:11–12 7 So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father's discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. 8 If you are never disciplined (and every child must be disciplined), you are not true children.9 We have all had fathers here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits so we will have life.10 Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. 11 We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way. 12 You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again. 13 Keep on the right path, so the weak will not stumble but rather be strengthened. 14 Try to live in peace with all people, and try to live free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.15 Be careful that no one fails to receive God's grace and begins to cause trouble among you. A person like that can ruin many of you.16 Be careful that no one takes part in sexual sin or is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal.17 You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father's blessing, but his father refused. Esau could find no way to change what he had done, even though he wanted the blessing so much that he cried. 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire. You have not come to darkness, sadness, and storms.19 You have not come to the noise of a trumpet or to the sound of a voice like the one the people of Israel heard and begged not to hear another word. 20 They did not want to hear the command: "If anything, even an animal, touches the mountain, it must be put to death with stones." 21 What they saw was so terrible that Moses said, "I am shaking with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands of angels gathered together with joy.23 You have come to the meeting of God's firstborn children whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all people, and to the spirits of good people who have been made perfect.24 You have come to Jesus, the One who brought the new agreement from God to his people, and you have come to the sprinkled blood that has a better message than the blood of Abel. 25 So be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Others refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So it will be worse for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven.26 When he spoke before, his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once again I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."27 The words "once again" clearly show us that everything that was made—things that can be shaken—will be destroyed. Only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. 28 So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear,29 because our God is like a fire that burns things up.
Hebrews 13 - New Century
1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.2 Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering as if you were suffering with them. 4 Marriage should be honored by everyone, and husband and wife should keep their marriage pure. God will judge as guilty those who take part in sexual sins. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said,
"I will never leave you;
I will never abandon you." — Deuteronomy 31:6
6 So we can be sure when we say,
"I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper.
People can't do anything to me." — Psalm 118:6 7 Remember your leaders who taught God's message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you into the wrong way. Your hearts should be strengthened by God's grace, not by obeying rules about foods, which do not help those who obey them. 10 We have a sacrifice, but the priests who serve in the Holy Tent cannot eat from it.11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place where he offers this blood for sins. But the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp.12 So Jesus also suffered outside the city to make his people holy with his own blood.13 So let us go to Jesus outside the camp, holding on as he did when we are abused. 14 Here on earth we do not have a city that lasts forever, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future.15 So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak his name.16 Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God. 17 Obey your leaders and act under their authority. They are watching over you, because they are responsible for your souls. Obey them so that they will do this work with joy, not sadness. It will not help you to make their work hard. 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience, because we always want to do the right thing.19 I especially beg you to pray so that God will send me back to you soon. 20-21 I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what he wants. God raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, because of the blood of his death. His blood began the eternal agreement that God made with his people. I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to this message I have written to encourage you, because it is not very long.23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been let out of prison. If he arrives soon, we will both come to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all of God's people. Those from Italy send greetings to you. 25 Grace be with you all.
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